Meet the candidates for 25th District Judge

April 17, 2012 at 5 p.m.Updated April 16, 2012 at 11:17 p.m.

Editor's note: The Advocate is profiling candidates in the May 29 primary election. This profile features candidates for the Republican nomination for judge, 25th Judicial District. The winner will not have a Democratic opponent in the November general election. This office includes three counties, Lavaca, Gonzales and Guadalupe.

Name: Stephen D. Finch

Age: 52

City/county of residence: Seguin, Guadalupe County, Texas

Occupation: Attorney

Political party: Republican

Office Seeking: Judge - 25th Judicial District

Why do you want to serve in this position?

I want to carry on the strong tradition we have in Texas of having qualified judges on the bench who understand the role of the court, which is to interpret the law, not legislate from the bench.

I have a long history of distinguished service to our community, and serving the people as district judge is an opportunity for me to give back to the citizens of the 25th Judicial District.

What qualifies you to serve in this office?

I am committed to strictly interpreting the law and the Constitution. This commitment, paired with my decades of experience practicing law in our community, lecturing on legal ethics, and service to our community make me uniquely qualified to serve as district judge here in the 25th Judicial District.

I have nearly 30 years of experience in the law. I have owned my own law practice in Seguin for nearly three decades and have handled thousands of cases during that time. I received my law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in 1983.

If elected, how will you go about effectively serving your constituents?

I know the law and share the values of our region, like protecting private property rights. I will use the Constitution as my guide in applying the law and will never legislate from the bench. I will use my years of experience in the law to ensure justice is carried out in the 25th District Court.

Phone number, address, email address or website where people can contact you for more information.

830-303-0124

105 W. Donegan, Seguin, Texas 78155

stephen@finchforjudge.com

www.finchforjudge.com

Name: Kevin Kolb

Age: 45

City/county of residence: Seguin/Guadalupe County,

Occupation: Judge/Magistrate, Attorney

Political party: Republican

Office Seeking: 25th District Judge

Why do you want to serve in this position?

As district judge, and currently as my role as a magistrate and judge, I have taken an oath to uphold the law, protect the public safety, and see to it that justice is carried out. The people of the 25th Judicial District deserve and demand a district judge who will preserve the Constitution, defend their values, and fight to protect the public trust. The role of district judge is of such importance in our society today that I believe that the most qualified person must serve the people and I believe that I am that person.

What qualifies you to serve in this office?

I bring the most judicial, prosecutorial, and legal experience to the office of district judge. I am a lifelong Republican who began my business and legal career at age 19 by working my way through college as a licensed Texas Realtor. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in 1988, I went on to become a CPA, an attorney, and later earned an advanced law degree - an LL.M., in state and federal taxation.

While attending law school, I was fortunate enough to have studied under two Justices of the United States Supreme Court - Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Associate Justice Antonin Scalia. I attribute my conservative legal principles, such as "strict constructionist" interpretation of the Constitution and the "non- judicial activism" approach to legal issues to the time I spent attending the personal lectures of those two legendary conservative justices.

If elected, how will you go about effectively serving your constituents?

In addition to bringing my judicial, prosecutorial, and legal experience to the office of district judge, I have made a pledge to not accept money from attorneys or special interest groups. Furthermore, I pledge to eliminate the common practice of "judge shopping" in the 25th Judicial District where attorneys or parties personally select the judge they want. Judge shopping will be replaced with a random but equal assignment of cases to judges, thereby significantly reducing the influence attorneys and special interest groups have in the outcome of a case. Integrity and transparency of the office of district judge will be upheld under my watch.

Phone number, address, email address or website where people can contact you for more information.

830-305-5201

515 E. Court St., Seguin, Texas 78155

JudgeKevinKolb@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/JudgeKevinKolb

www.kolb-murraypc.com

Name: Bill Old

Age: 50

City/county of residence: Seguin/Guadalupe County

Occupation: Attorney

Political party: Republican

Office Seeking: District Judge, 25th Judicial District

Why do you want to serve in this position?

I want to protect the court's role as perhaps the most democratic institution in our government; where citizens are charged with making critical decisions, sometimes involving life and death. A judge is an umpire in that process - calling balls and strikes based on the law - not a politician legislating from the bench. As Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson has said, polls now show overwhelmingly that Texans have lost faith in judges' ability to be impartial. That's why I pledged on Day One of my campaign to refuse money from attorneys who might come before me as judge.

What qualifies you to serve in this office?

Actual, significant courtroom experience. In 24 years of practice, I've handled hundreds of cases across a broad spectrum of issues that will come before the court. I practice both civil and criminal law, the same types of cases most often heard in district court. My experience gives me the insight and knowledge needed to apply the law as written, evenly and fairly for all parties.

If elected, how will you go about effectively serving your constituents?

I'll find ways to make the court more efficient and responsive to the counties it serves. As an attorney who is in court daily, I know how much court time is consumed dealing with uncontested matters that simply need a judge's review and signature. Using regular court time for uncontested matters drives up costs to litigants and taxpayers through higher attorney's fees. As judge, I'll immediately create an uncontested docket in each of the court's four counties. This simple change will free up regularly scheduled court days for time consuming contested matters requiring testimony and the presentation of evidence.

Phone number, address, email address or website where people can contact you for more information.